Norwegian lawmaker nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO: A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the Middle East.

Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the far-right Progress Party, said Trump should be considered because of his work for a peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

“No matter how Trump acts at home and what he says at press conferences, he has absolutely a chance at getting the Nobel Peace Prize,” he told a news agency, adding that he nominated Trump for the 2021 prize.

The nominations must be sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by 1st February, meaning the deadline to nominate people for this year’s peace prize has passed.

Tybring-Gjedde was one of the two Norwegian politicians who nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for his efforts to bring reconciliation between North and South Korea.

Former US President Barack Obama was awarded the prize in 2009 only months into his first term. The Norwegian committee said it honoured Obama for his commitment to “seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not publicly comment on nominees and the information is required to be kept secret for 50 years. However, he said he does not agree with all of Trump’s policies. “I am not a big Trump supporter,” he said.

US President Donald Trump revelled in his nomination for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. “Thank you!” he said in a flurry of tweets celebrating the nomination.

Trump has previously complained that he has not been considered more seriously for the peace prize, expressing bitterness that his predecessor Barack Obama was awarded the prestigious honour at the start of his first term.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and White House advisor, said the president was “very, very honored to be nominated.” Tybring-Gjedde said the Nobel committee should not be swayed by any controversy over Trump’s divisive style.